One Day at a Time

April 7, 2011 by Kwee Lain
[ From DailyOM ]

Our lives are made of stepping stones, one experience after another in perfect and divine order.

The years of our life do not arrive all at once; they greet us day by day. With the descent of each setting sun, we are able to rest our heads and let the world take care of itself for a while. We may rest assured throughout the night, knowing that the dawn will bring with it a chance to meet our lives anew, donning fresh perspectives and dream-inspired hopes. The hours that follow, before we return to sleep once more, are for us to decide how we want to live and learn, laugh and grow. Our lives are sweeter and more manageable because we must experience them this way: one day at a time.

Imagine the future stretching out before you and try to notice if you feel any tension or overwhelm at the prospect of the journey still to come. Perhaps you have recently made a lifestyle change, like beginning a new diet or quitting smoking, and the idea of continuing this healthy new behavior for years seems daunting. Maybe you have started a new job or are newly married and can feel an undercurrent of anxiety about your ability to succeed. If you can shift your focus from what may happen years down the line and return it to the day that is before you right now, you may find a measure of calm and renewed confidence in your capabilities. You may also discover an inner faith that the future will take care of itself.

The way we show up for our lives today and tomorrow has an enormous affect on who we will be and what we will be experiencing years from now. If we can remain fully engaged in the day at hand, enjoying all it has to offer and putting our energy into making the most of it, we will find that we are perfectly ready and capable to handle any future when it arrives.

Doing nothing at all

Awesome song from Bruno Mars titled The Lazy Song which totally embodies what I feel except one or two parts that apply only to the men! I had a great weekend, spent house hunting and met my cowfu and his family who were in HK for a holiday. House hunting was optional, but thought to prepare myself a bit for the rent hike come June! Got a good break of resting this weekend (meaning I did zero housework!), back from Korea for work over Tues-Fri this week. Stayed at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, and partied at JJ Bar, great band they had! Only two words to descibe Seoul, Beef and Girls! It was one of the best bbq beef and I ate loads and loads. I saw a lady who just finished a plastic surgery, evidenced by the bruise marks and stitches on her face. Might be worth it, as the ladies in Korea, holy smokes, are all hottttttt!

Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything

I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don't Feel Like Pickin' Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
'Cause Today I swear I'm Not Doin' Anythin'

I'm Gonna Kick My Feet Up
Then Stare At The Fan
Turn The TV On
Throw My Hand In My Pants
Nobody's Gon' Tell Me I Can't

I'll Be Lounging On The Couch, Jus' Chillin In My Snuggie
Click To MTV So They Can Teach Me Howda Dougie
Cause In My Castle I'm The Freakin' Man

Oh Oh
Yes I Said It
I Said It
I Said It 'Cause I Can

Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don't Feel Like Pickin' Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
'Cause Today I Swear I'm Not Doin' Anythin'
Nothin' At All

Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh
Nothin' At All
Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh

Tomorrow I'll Wake Up Do Some P90X
Meet A Really Nice Girl Have Some Really Nice Sex
She's Gonna Scream Out "This Is Great!" (Oh My God! This Is Great!)
Yeah
I Might Mess Around, and Get My Collage Degree
I Bet My Old Man Would Be So Prouda Me

But Sorry Pops You'll Just Have To Wait
Oh Oh
Yes I Said It
I Said It
I Said It 'Cause I Can
Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don't Feel Like Pickin' Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
'Cause Today I swear I'm Not Doin' Anythin'

No I Ain't Gonna Comb My Hair
'Cause I Ain't Goin' Anywhere
No No No No No No No No No
Ohhh

I'll Just Strut In My Birthday Suit
And Let Everything Hang Loose
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Back!

Just came back from a 4 day trip to Ho Chi Min with the family minus Paul (coz he wants to go for another trip of his own to the US). It was good, a break from the work.

I am having a problem with my studies. This one quantitative module is very difficult. My assignment 1 was due since 28 Feb, but I still have not completed the last question. I just have to get my thoughts in order and focus. In my mind I keep saying it is difficult and whenever I sit down to complete it, my thoughts stray and sometimes I will go on to the internet for entertainment. Days have passed like this and I am currently struggling with it again.

I have to find a way to block out the 'noise' in my head and finish it once and for all. I can do it.

Nice Quote

A smile is the greatest currency of all.

Happiness

The below extract makes sense. And that only we can decide if we want to be happy or not, and how do we want to lead our lives. Money is only a commodity, it should not contain emotional attachments to it.

"Those who were happy reported thinking such as "Yeah, this sucks, but I still have dreams. There are still things I can do. And I'm going to focus on those things." Those who were miserable made statements such as "This is so unfair. My whole life is ruined. I will never be happy." In obtaining the life histories of the patients, I saw that those who were happy had full and active lives, they had friends and jobs and were involved in activities. Whereas those who were miserable, often did nothing but stay in bed with little social contact and had more problems with bed sores and other ailments due to the inactivity.

I noticed that those who were happy made a clear choice to be happy. They could often describe the precise moment or the words that they said to themselves.

Since then, even though we have had much more significant stressors in our lives, I'm no longer waiting to be happy because I recognize that happiness is a choice that we make every day. Happiness is not due to the things that happen or don't happen to us. Happiness isn't due to how much money we have or the house we live in or how successful we or our children are. Happiness is present every day we choose for it to be present.

Therefore, happiness is a choice to feel the emotions that result from an event, to fully grieve, but also, to recognize our ability to accept what life offers us rather than remain focused on what is taken from us. Happiness is an attitude."

http://www.excelatlife.com/happiness.htm

Buddha Quotes

By Kwee Lain

1. Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

2. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

3. It is better to travel well than to arrive.

4. Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.

5. Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

6. Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

7. To keep the body in good health is a duty. Otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

8. There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

9. The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.

10. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

19 Days into 2011

School has started. Every lecture leaves question marks in my head. I hope it gets better.

So far, I am happy with the way the year is starting out work wise.

Last Sun 16th, I went for a concert introduced by Sam as her friend plays the cello in the event. It was inspiring and I was impressed with a brilliant pianist who played the 2nd symphony (Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini). He is Meng Chieh Liu and displayed exellent showmanship and utter mastery. He managed to evoke a variety of emotions in me throughout his performance.

Jackie visited last weekend too. The usual dim sum, egg tarts and Stanley market rounds. She and M managed to buy many knick knacks at Ladies Market, surely that is something that I am unable to do. I didn't think there would be anything at that tourist trap! I'm glad they had fun buying and wearing boots! I was a little sad to see her leave, as it had been so nice to have someone truly cares for me in HK, and when she left, I felt the warmth dissipate.

Chinese New Year will be upon us in less than 2 weeks time! It would be nice to go home to a sunny island. A definite welcome change from the frigid weather here!